Hampton Safari - Info Please!!

[Fozzi in Lancashire]

Hi All, Been looking at a few of these Hampton Safaris online, couple on Apollo Duck ("Zesty") & one on BoatShed @ £14995. Just wondered what people 

thought of them. Majority seem to be the ex-holiday boats mostly on the Norfolk Broads, built around mid 70's early 80's, standard front sliding roof & rear entrance with a fixed double bed

at the stern. A lot have the BMC 1.5 diesel engine although the one at £14995 has a Nanni 3.30 diesel. I'm on the Lancaster Canal and the beam worries me a little, some are 9' or 9'-6", although

they are meant to be easy to handle with the front steering. Any thoughts / info would be greatly appreciated or any for sale in Lancashire? The above are Suffolk & Surrey!! Thanks everyone.

[Tony Brooks]

Do they have a hydraulic drive rather than a gearbox? They may well do if the engine is mounted transversely.

I have never found front steering particularly easy, the back end tends to wag about so you zig zag on your way.

Those full width sliding roofs can be draughty and poorly insulated if you want this as an all the year round bat or a livaboard.

 

[Bee]

You are right, quite likely to be ex hire boat and knocked around a bit, check for cracks along gunwales and all the corners and places that could clout locks and bridges, also rubbing strakes can be pulled off and re fixed with self tappers and other means. GRP boats tend to be less 'homely' than others but that is down to taste really. They don't rust though so that is a good thing but general condition can be a bit tired with gel coat crazing. You could probably find a lot of wear and tear that could knock a bit off the price. All depends what you want it for really.

[iamupforit]

had a safari for 10 years on the broads,  beam is 9ft 6in,  engine is midship so driven by a shaft

mk1 and mk11 have sliding canopies and are draughty but the mk111 has no canopy but doors in the front opening into a small well

 well built sturdy boat with loads of space for 25ft